Senate Bows to Pressure, Suspends Amendment of CCB Act

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, April 20th, 2016

By Ganiyu Nasirudeen

The Nigerian Senate has suspended further legislative deliberations on amendment to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as well as the Administration of Criminal Justice Acts.

It would be recalled the three bills, which motions were moved last week by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP Delta State), had passed second reading and subsequently referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The Senate’s move on the amendment has been considered by the public as an attempt by the pro Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s supporters to thwart the NASS’s Chairman ongoing trial at CCT.

Making the announcement Wednesday at the plenary, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, informed that the Senate executive at its meeting, has also agreed to suspend further deliberations on the report of the Ethics’s committee on the alleged anti-parliamentary activities by Senator Kabir Marafa.

Deputy Senate President indicated that Senators unanimously resolved to stand by Saraki, in his CCT trial in line with the global convention of an accused being innocent, until he is proven otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Similarly, Ikweremadu informed that the Senate executive had directed all members of the upper chamber who had instituted different court cases to withdraw them forthwith in the true spirit of reconciliation.

Beside, Saraki’s Deputy, disclosed that the leadership of the Senate has agreed to constitute a powerful committee, comprising two members each, from the six geo political zones in the country, to deliberate on other issues which had divided the eight upper legislative chamber since inception last year.